Golf training accessory

ABSTRACT

A golf training accessory has a body that defines at least two elongated ball striking surfaces having different widths, each width being less than approximately 10 mm. An attachment arrangement attaches the body to a head of a putter in manner in which either one of the ball striking surfaces is coincident with an intended strike zone of the putter head. The attachment arrangement is configured to permit a user to select a ball striking surface to be coincident with the intended strike zone.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to golf training accessories. In particular, the invention relates to a putting training accessory.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The quality of impact between a putter and golf ball affects a putting stroke. The quality of impact is determined by several factors.

It is known by golfers that putting from within about 3 metres of the hole can be difficult if the golfer lacks confidence. At shorter distances, success or failure can depend largely on the confidence of the golfer. The inventor believes that there is a need for golfers to be able to practice in a manner in which their confidence is enhanced.

It is also known by golfers that when the golf ball is struck a tactile sensation is experienced which indicates whether or not the golf ball has been struck by the sweet spot or insert of the putter head. However, a sweet spot or insert of a modern putter head is usually significantly larger than a point of impact which means that a golf ball can be struck in a manner in which the impact feels acceptable although the lateral or angular orientation of the putter head relative to the golf ball is not square, resulting in an inaccurate stroke.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A golf training accessory, which includes:

-   -   a body that defines at least two elongated ball striking         surfaces having different widths, each width being less than         approximately 10 mm; and     -   an attachment arrangement for attaching the body to a head of a         putter in manner in which either one of the ball striking         surfaces is coincident with an intended strike zone of the         putter head, the attachment arrangement being configured to         permit a user to select a ball striking surface to be coincident         with the intended strike zone.

The attachment arrangement may allow the body to be attached to the putter head in a manner in which the selected ball striking surface extends across a face of the putter head in an orientation that is substantially orthogonal to the intended path of travel of the golf ball.

The body may include three or more ball striking surfaces so that a user can adjust a difficulty level a number of times corresponding with the number of surfaces.

The body may have a hexagonal cross section to define six generally rectangular faces, at least two of them defining the ball striking surfaces. For example, the body may have a shape of a triangular prism with long apexes truncated to define the ball striking faces. In another example, the body may have faces or surfaces that are oriented at right angles to each other. Thus, a cross section of the body may have a profile defined by a number of edges at right angles to each other.

The attachment arrangement may include a magnet that is magnetically attachable to a putter head that is formed from a ferromagnetic material. The body itself may be magnetized to stick to a putter face, so providing the attachment arrangement. The body may be in the form of a permanent magnet, such as a rare-earth magnet. One rare earth magnet that is suitable is a neodymium magnet. Such magnets can be three to five times stronger than ferrite magnets.

The inventor envisages any number of different shapes. A limitation is that opposite faces or surfaces are parallel to each other, allowing one surface to be attached to the putter face while the other surface is oriented orthogonally with respect to an intended path of travel.

Many putters have a ferrous head, such as steel, capable of magnetic interaction, with an insert which is of a softer material, but which is not capable of magnetic interaction. Thus, the body may have a length that is sufficient to permit the body to span the insert and bear directly against the ferrous material of the head. It will be appreciated that in the case of a rare earth magnetic material, it will be difficult for a user to pull the body off the putter head. Without any form of purchase it might be necessary to slide the body off the putter head. However, such sliding may damage the insert. Thus, the length of the body may be such that the body can span the insert and project beyond the top line of the head. In that example, a user can simply grip the projecting portion and lever the body off the putter head.

As is known, neodymium magnets can be fabricated in a sintering process. Thus, the body can be sintered, ground to shape and nickel plated. The body can be magnetised so that the polarity is transverse, rather than longitudinal, which would result in an end face of the body being attracted to the head instead of the side faces.

Generally, putter heads are restricted in height to about 60 mm. However, many putter heads have a distance from the sole to the top of the head that is between about 25 mm and 30 mm. Thus, the body may have a lengthwise dimension of between about 27 mm and 40 mm. For example, the body may have a lengthwise dimension of between about 28 mm to 38 mm. The one ball striking surface may have a width of between about 6 mm to 9 mm, the other ball striking surface may have a width of between about 3 mm and 6 mm, and the other ball striking surface may have a width of between about 1 mm and 3 mm.

In cross section, the body may define an equilateral triangle. Each side of the triangle may have a length of between about 4 mm and 12 mm.

It will be appreciated that a neodymium magnet with dimensions set out above will have a weight that is negligible compared with the average putter head. It follows that the body, when attached to the putter head will have a negligible effect on the “feel” of the putter swing. Thus, a golfer will not feel it necessary to make a swing alteration when the body is removed.

Instead, the attachment arrangement may include an adhesive layer for attaching the body to the putter head. It will be appreciated that different attachment arrangements may be used to suit different applications.

The invention also provides a putter, which incorporates an accessory as described above.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a golf accessory which includes

-   -   a body of a magnetic material that defines at least one         elongated ball striking surface having a width of less than         approximately 10 mm, the body being capable of attachment to a         head of a putter in a manner in which the ball striking surface         is coincident with an intended strike zone of the putter head.

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to narrow the scope of the preceding paragraphs or the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a golf training accessory, in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a putter and the golf training accessory in FIG. 1, in use.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a part of the golf training accessory in FIG. 1 striking a golf ball in an angularly misaligned manner.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a part of the golf training accessory in FIG. 1 striking a golf ball in a laterally misaligned manner.

FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of another exemplary embodiment of a golf training accessory, in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional view of another exemplary embodiment of a golf training accessory, in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of another exemplary embodiment of a golf training accessory, in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a golf training accessory, in accordance with the invention. The golf training accessory 10 includes a body 12 that defines three elongated ball striking surfaces 14, 16, 18 having different widths, each width being less than approximately 10 mm. Broadly, the putting training accessory 10 includes an attachment arrangement for attaching the body 12 to a head 20 of a putter 22 in a manner in which either one of the ball striking surfaces is coincident with an intended strike zone of the putter head 20, the attachment arrangement being configured to permit a user to select a ball striking surface to be coincident with the intended strike zone.

The term ‘intended strike zone’ is meant to include a ‘sweet spot’ of the putter.

The body 12 is elongated and generally triangular in cross section to define three generally rectangular major faces 15. For example, the body 12 has the shape of a triangular prism with long apexes truncated to define the ball striking faces 14, 16, 18 extending between triangular faces 17. In other words, the body 12 has a cross-sectional, hexagonal shape with opposite faces in parallel planes. Furthermore, any of the major faces 15 can also be in the form of a ball striking face, depending on the manner in which the body 12 is placed on the head 20. Thus, it is possible to achieve six different striking faces for gradual progression as the golfer improves.

In this embodiment, the body 12 is magnetized to stick to a putter face 26 of the putter head 20 which is formed from a ferrous metal, so providing the attachment arrangement. The body 12 is formed from a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet can be a rare-earth magnet such as a neodymium magnet. As shown in FIG. 2, the body 12 is attached to the putter head 20 so that the selected ball striking surface 14 is parallel to the face 26 of the putter head 20, in an orientation that is substantially orthogonal to the intended path of travel of the golf ball. Thus, it is a requirement that opposite surfaces be parallel to each other.

It is envisaged that the striking faces or surfaces of the body need not be planar. However, where the faces are not planar, two or more areas that make contact with the ball are required to be in a plane that is parallel to a plane of contact between the body 12 and the putter head face 26.

The putter head 20 includes an insert 21 which is of a softer material, but which is not capable of magnetic interaction. Thus, the body 12 has a length that is sufficient to permit the body 12 to span the insert 21 and bear directly against the ferrous material of the head 20.

The neodymium magnet is fabricated in a sintering process. Thus, the body 12 is sintered, ground to shape and nickel plated.

Moreover, the body 12 has a lengthwise dimension selected so that an operatively upper portion of the body 12 projects beyond an upper edge of the face 26 of the putter head 20, as shown in FIG. 2.

The ball striking surface 14 has a width of between about 6 mm to 9 mm, the other ball striking surface 16 has a width of between about 3 mm and 6 mm, and the other ball striking surface 18 has a width of between about 1 mm and 3 mm. Each major face 15 of the body 12 has a width of between about 4 mm and 12 mm.

It will be appreciated that the attachment arrangement can include an adhesive layer for attaching the body 12 to the putter head 20.

The body 12 includes three or more ball striking surfaces so that a user can adjust a difficulty level a number of times corresponding with the number of surfaces. This can be done simply by detaching and rotating the accessory 10 and so obviates the need for a set of accessories.

The combination of the material of the accessory 10 and the dimensions described above result in the accessory 10 having a weight that is negligible compared to the weight of the putter head 20. It follows that the overall weight of the putter does not vary sufficiently with or without the accessory for a user to feel the need to adjust his or her swing or stroke.

Further, a rare earth magnetic material is relatively strong, so it can be difficult for a user to pull the body 12 off the putter head 20. It follows that the body 12 has a length that projects beyond an upper edge of the putter head 20 so as to provide a grip for a user to grip and lever the body 12 off the putter head 20. This can prevent damage to the face 26 which can be caused by sliding the body 12 off the face 26.

The body 12 has a polarity that is transverse, rather than longitudinal, which would result in an end face of the body being attracted to the head instead of the side faces.

The striking surfaces 14, 16, 18 are significantly narrower than an intended striking zone of the putter head 20, therefore requiring a user accurately to strike the ball 28 to prevent deflection of the ball 28 from an intended path of travel 30 (FIGS. 3, 4). This enables a user to build muscle memory for striking the golf ball 28 accurately. However, a user can orientate the body 12 so that one of the striking surfaces 14, 16, 18 attaches to the putter head 20. This allows the user to use the wider opposed face 15 to strike the ball. As a result, the accessory 10 can provide six different levels of difficulty.

In FIG. 3, a corner 32 of the accessory 10 can strike the golf ball 28 when the face 26 is not orthogonal with the intended path of travel 30 at the moment of impact. This causes the ball to move in the general direction of the arrow 34.

In FIG. 4, a corner 32 of the accessory 10 can strike the golf ball 28 when the face is orthogonal to the intended path of travel 30, but the strike point is not aligned with a centre line of the ball 28. This causes the ball 28 to move in the general direction of the arrow 36.

Thus, there is an amplification of the error or miss-hit that would occur without the accessory 10. As a result, there is an increased level of difficulty in achieving a ball strike that results in movement of the ball 28 along the intended path of travel 30.

The triangular cross section of the accessory 10 can define an equilateral triangle. This allows an overall view of the accessory 10 by a golfer to remain consistent regardless of the particular surface being used by the golfer.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 40 generally indicates a further exemplary embodiment of a golfing accessory. With reference to the preceding drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. Thus, the body 12 of the accessory 40 is essentially the same as the body 12 of the accessory 10 with the exception of the relative dimensions and configurations of the faces.

The accessory 40 also has a hexagonal cross-section. However, in this embodiment, the faces have a different configuration to the faces of the accessory 10. In both cases, however, the width of the faces is within the bounds of the range of dimensions described above. The inventor envisages that various dimensions can be used provided they allow a golfer to progress from a low level of difficulty to a relatively high level of difficulty.

The inventor envisages that various other configurations of the body 12 are possible. For example, in FIG. 6, reference numeral 50 generally indicates a further exemplary embodiment of a golfing accessory. With reference to the preceding drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. Thus, the body 12 of the accessory 50 is essentially the same as the body 12 of the accessory 10 with the exception of the relative dimensions and configurations of the faces or surfaces.

In this example, the body 12 has faces that are at right angles to each other. In particular, the body 12 defines four potential strike faces 52, 54, 56 and 58 having different widths, so allowing for progressive improvement. These widths can be within the bounds of the widths associated with the accessory 10.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 60 generally indicates a further exemplary embodiment of a golfing accessory. With reference to the preceding drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. Thus, the body 12 of the accessory 40 is essentially the same as the body 12 of the accessory 10 with the exception of the relative dimensions and configurations of the faces.

In this example, the body 12 also has four faces 62, 64, 66, 68 that are at right angles to each other and of different widths to allow for progressive improvement. This embodiment simplifies the option of having a body 12 with a generally cross-shaped cross-section. The arms of the cross define the faces 62, 64, 66, 68 and can be of various dimensions, one set of which is shown in FIG. 7. The widths of the faces can be within the bounds of the widths of the faces of the accessory 10.

The inventor has described the further embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 for the purposes of emphasising the fact that the inventor envisages that various other relative face orientations and configurations could be used to achieve the functionality of the exemplary accessories described above. The inventor has found that the body 12, in use, accentuates the tactile sensation when the ball 28 is not struck sweetly, thereby indicating to the user that the stroke was inaccurate.

The accessory 10, 40, 50, 60 is suited for building confidence at distances of less than about 3 to 4 metres from the hole. At these distances, the confidence of the golfer plays a major role in whether or not a putting stroke is successful. Thus, the accessory can be used repeatedly within these distances until the golfer is able to sink putts. Then, when the accessory is removed, the golfer can putt with increased confidence since he or she will be familiar with the required stroke and will also have a belief that if the putt was successful with the accessory, the chances are very high that the putt will be successful without the accessory.

The magnetic body 12 allows the accessory to be stowed in a number of convenient locations when not in use. The strength of the magnet allows the accessory to be stored on an external component of golfing equipment for simple access and replacement.

Various substantially and specifically practical and useful exemplary embodiments of the claimed subject matter are described herein, textually and/or graphically, including the best mode, if any, known to the inventor for carrying out the claimed subject matter. Variations (e.g., modifications and/or enhancements) of one or more embodiments described herein might become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this application. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the claimed subject matter to be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

Accordingly, as permitted by law, the claimed subject matter includes and covers all equivalents of the claimed subject matter and all improvements to the claimed subject matter. Moreover, every combination of the above described elements, activities, and all possible variations thereof are encompassed by the claimed subject matter unless otherwise clearly indicated herein, clearly and specifically disclaimed, or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate one or more embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any claimed subject matter unless otherwise stated. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed subject matter as essential to the claimed subject matter.

Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, or clearly contradicted by context, with respect to any claim, whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise:

-   -   there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular         described or illustrated characteristic, function, activity, or         element, any particular sequence of activities, or any         particular interrelationship of elements;     -   any elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated;     -   any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by         multiple entities, and/or any activity can be performed in         multiple jurisdictions; and     -   any activity or element can be specifically excluded, the         sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of         elements can vary.

The use of the terms “a”, “an”, “said”, “the”, and/or similar referents in the context of describing various embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. 

1. A golf training accessory, which comprises a body that defines at least two elongated ball striking surfaces having different widths, each width being less than approximately 10 mm; and an attachment arrangement for attaching the body to a head of a putter in manner in which either one of the ball striking surfaces is coincident with an intended strike zone of the putter head, the attachment arrangement being configured to permit a user to select a ball striking surface to be coincident with the intended strike zone.
 2. A golf training accessory as claimed in claim 1, in which the attachment arrangement allows the body to be attached to the putter head in a manner in which the selected ball striking surface is in a plane that is parallel to a face of the putter head.
 3. A golf training accessory as claimed in claim 1, in which the body includes at least three ball striking surfaces so that a user can adjust a difficulty level a number of times corresponding with the number of surfaces.
 4. A golf training apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which one ball striking surface has a width of between about 6 mm to 9 mm, another ball striking surface has a width of between about 3 mm and 6 mm, and another ball striking surface has a width of between about 1 mm and 3 mm.
 5. A golf training accessory as claimed in claim 3, in which the body is hexagonal in cross section to define six generally rectangular major faces.
 6. A golf training accessory as claimed in claim 1, in which the attachment arrangement includes a magnet that is magnetically attachable to a putter head that is formed from a ferromagnetic material.
 7. A golf training accessory as claimed in claim 6, in which the body itself is magnetized to stick to a putter face, so providing the attachment arrangement.
 8. A golf training accessory as claimed in claim 7, in which the body is in the form of a permanent magnet, such as a rare-earth magnet.
 9. A golf training accessory as claimed in claim 6, in which the body has a length that is sufficient to permit the body to project beyond a top line of the head so that a user can simply grip the projecting portion and lever the body off the putter head.
 10. A golf training accessory as claimed in claim 9, in which the body has a length of between about 20 mm and 40 mm. For example, the body may have a length of between about 28 mm to 38 mm. 